Tamoxifen

TraciInLA said:

Also worth noting - drug interactions

I also think it's worth noting that there are some common over-the-counter and prescription drugs that have been shown to make Tamoxifen less effective, including Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Tagamet (cimetidine) and some (not all) antidepressants.  From the ACS:

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/guidetocancerdrugs/tamoxifen

Before cancer, I used to take Benadryl occasionally if I had trouble sleeping -- now that I'm on Tamoxifen, I've stopped doing that.  And I used to take Tagamet sometimes for heartburn -- I switched to Zantac.

Traci

There are several antidepressants that you should not take while on tamoxifen.  And, everyone should have the test to see if they metabolize tamox as many don't.  That's why "some" have no side effects, it isnt' working.

Lynn Smith said:

Andi

Andi.I also hate taking pills. I don't take but 3 meds so not that many but I at times I forgot my tamox.I take it at night like I mentioned.Recently I see my hair getting thinner.Noticed this last several months.I thought it could be my bout with bronchitis but might be tamox.I forgot loosing hair was another side effect.I had fine thin hair anyway all my life. Hope when I go off tamox it gets thicker.

I didn't need chemo or radation with DCIS so that can't be why my hair is thinning.  

I'm counting the months to be finished with tamox.Dec 2014 will be 5 years.Like Sirod said don't go off of it.I took a few months contemplating before taking it and my doctor told me I would be a greater risk of getting another type of cancer. 

Lynn Smith

Yes some antidepreesents can't be taken while on tamox.My family doctor gave me a prescript but when I went to the oncologist she said I can't take it.In the beginning of my dx they were encourgaging me to take something.The stress of it all but With a heart condition since 30 I prefer not to.It's the going off  the antidpressent that worries me.It has to be gradual but I stil fear my heart going out of control.

I went cold turkey drinking caffeine coke.(I didn't know better) My heart meds weren't working. I had to go my heart specialist.Nothing was found.I realized on my own  it was going off the caffeine  coke.Withdrawal.So I prefer not to take anything. The withdrawal was horrific with my heart beating 160 beats a minute till I took a  pill to get the fast beats to subside.The heart meds were only lasting 12 hours and not 24 hours during that time.

There was one nerve pill I know I can take but the doctor said it can't be taken with tamox.

Lynn Smith

andi44 said:

Actually, switching to taking

Actually, switching to taking the med at night has helped...This is the first time I've ever had to take any sort of medication on a regular basis (besides taking antibiotics)...I hate taking pills and I'm bad at it...that's why I thought that if I took it in the morning when I'm getting ready I'd remember to take it...It's hard to alter routines - Anyway, thank you all for your comments and suggestions...

Andi

I am glad that by taking tamox at night time that it is helping you Andi.  I hate taking pills too

Jan

JJDS said:

I am glad that by switching

I am glad that by switching to taking it at night, that you're doing better Andi.

Hugs, JJ

Happy that you're feeling somewhat better Andi.  Do you think you need to talk to your onco about switching to another hormone blocker? 

Leeza

Just finished my first whole bottle of Tamoxifen--only 59 more bottles to go! Andi, I, too, am not real happy with taking this drug. It's just so aggravating that I escaped hot flashes during my natural menopause--only now I get the priviledge to experience these lovely hot flashes courtesy of tamoxifen!!  I'm hoping that this side effect might get milder or go away completely after awhile.  I have read about armidex and it has its own SE that don't sound like too much fun either. I think I can deal with the hot flashes better than joint pain, though. 

Sounds like we both started tamoxifen about the same time--so at least we can encourage each other on this journey.

Beth

jlharris said:

Switching from Arimidex

Suzanne;

Why did you switch from arimidex to tamoxifen? Did you have worse side effects from arimidex? Just curious because I am currently on arimidex (two week now) and have had no side effects.

Thanks,

Jenifer

I'm sorry I didn't answer this previously.  I lost my hair 3 years ago to chemotherapy and haven't seen it since (well, I have SOME hair, but I look like the crypt keeper).  The medical profession has a hard time accepting that it is from the Taxotere because it is a really really rare side effect and my oncologist has been determined it had to be attributable to something else (that can be fixed).  So the switch was to see whether it was  due to the was the Arimidex.  She was not comfortable without me taking something for ER+ and thought that since AIs work differently than Tamoxifen, it was worth trying.  It didn't make any difference.  I saw her yesterday and we decided to stay with Tamoxifen simply because while I didn't think Arimidex was causing any joint pain, I have absolutely none on Tamoxifen so I guess those aches I thought were age ralated might have been related to Arimidex.  I assured her that I planned on complaining about my hair for the rest of my life and since she extended my life, she needed to be prepared to hear about it for a long time.  

And, all the talk about taking Tamoxifen for 10 years instead of 5 - well, I don't think I'm going to do that, but will do it for 5 and revisit how I feel about it then.  "They'll" probably change their minds again by then anyway . .  .

Suzanne